On Character

Subscribe.

Get summaries of the top 10 personal finance books in one *free* 60 page
ebook when you join our mailing list. No spam, ever.

Email Address

“Character” is an important concept for me. I believe one of the things that makes life worth living is the interaction with people who have character, and the enhancement of one’s own character.

Some people use the phrase “he’s a bit of a character” to imply eccentricity or social awkwardness. That is not what I am talking about.

Generally, character is regarded as the sum of “who you are”. That is not what I’m talking about (though it is related).

Character is a demonstration of value that is not contrived, and is the result of noteworthy discipline, courage, honour, integrity or taste.

Character can come in huge gestures which claim life, or the tiniest remarks and behaviours. Character can be self-interested, it is not the same as altruism. Character is fundamentally about making an effort to be better than you would be otherwise, whilst adhering to a moral code you have arrived at through study and introspection. Many highly successful, rich and powerful people lack character. No one can forcibly take character away, though through your actions, you can reduce your character.

Your character is a constantly shifting quantity, like a health bar in a computer game. People will perceive it to be at different levels, depending on how well they know you. The people who know you best should have an accurate idea of your level of character, though their perception will never be 100% accurate. Acts which increase character can be acknowledged in social situations with the single word “character”. Here are some random examples of character that I’ve thought about or witnessed recently:

Wang Weilin staring down the tanks in Tiananmen Square

Wang Weilin

- The worker who goes to night school whilst working a full-time job so he can improve his lot